IMPACT OF ELECTRONIC SECURITY SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS ON SAFETY MEASURES IN SECONDARY SCHOOL IN TRANS NZOIA COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

The safety of secondary schools is critical for ensuring consistent academic performance. However, schools worldwide face various threats that undermine this safety. In Kenya, secondary schools have experienced several security challenges, including fires, theft, and radicalization. Despite these risks, the adoption of electronic security surveillance systems to mitigate such threats remains limited. In Trans Nzoia County, secondary schools are particularly vulnerable to security threats, placing the school community at significant risk. Against this backdrop, this study aimed to assess the impact of electronic security surveillance systems on secondary school safety in Trans Nzoia County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to examine the nature and extent of electronic security surveillance systems in secondary schools, evaluate their effectiveness in enhancing safety, and explore the challenges hindering their optimal operation. The Situational Crime Prevent ion Theory and Contingency Theory guided the research. A descriptive survey research design was employed, targeting 14 secondary schools that had previously encountered security threats and had installed electronic surveillance systems. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling were used to select participants, including school principals (14), boarding teachers (14), security personnel (14), students (70—10 from each of the 7 schools), the County Director of Education (1), and the Chief Fire Officer (1). Data collection methods included structured questionnaires, interview guides, focus group discussions, and observation checklists. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the assistance of SPSS version 25, with a significance level set at 0.05. Results were presented using tables and figures, with percentages and frequencies. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically and presented verbatim. The study found that CCTV cameras had been installed in all the surveyed secondary schools. The majority of respondents (76.9%) agreed that the presence and extent of electronic security surveillance systems contributed to enhancing safety within the school community. The interaction between installed surveillance systems, national ICT policy, and school safety policy explained 29.9% of the variance in the promotion of school safety (R² = 0.299, F (2, 75) = 15.966, p = 0.000). Additionally, 80.8% of respondents confirmed the effectiveness of electronic surveillance systems in improving school safety. There was a 40.9% variance in the effectiveness of these systems on school safety when national ICT and school safety policies were implemented (R² = 0.409, F (2, 75) = 26.003, p = 0.000). However, 73.1% of respondents reported challenges in the optimal operation of these systems, which were significantly associated with the implementation of national ICT and school safety policies, contributing to a 32.3% impact on school safety (R² = 0.323, F (2, 75) = 17.861, p = 0.000). The study concluded that CCTV cameras are the most preferred form of electronic security surveillance in secondary schools. However, challenges in their operation hinder their full potential in maintaining school safety. Consequently, the study recommends that the boards of management in secondary schools, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of ICT, expand the use of additional surveillance technologies, such as fire alarms, burglary alarms, metal detectors, and biometric systems, to enhance the safety of the school community. Increased investment in electronic security systems is essential to cover the entire school precinct and to support the personnel responsible for reporting security threats.